Refrigerating apparatus



Jan. 8, 1929; 1,698,122

A. H. COLLINS REFRIGERATING AFPA'RATUS Filed Feb. 16, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 4/71/90/7 A. fa/fl/zs' A TTORNE Y.

Jan.'8,-1929.

A. H. COLLINS REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Z SheetS-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16,1927 WWO,

INVENTOR. (o/M29 J @(I W ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 8, 1%29.

ANTHONY H. COLLINS. 013 BRONXVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO PNEU-MATIC TOOL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ranrnrenaarme APPARATUS.

Application filed February 16. 1927. Serial No. 168,513.

This invention relates to means for transforming heat with particularrelation to refrigerating systems and apparatus. While havingapplication to refrigerating apparatus generally, it particularlyconcerns mechanically operated refrigerating outfits intended forhousehold use wherein the mechanism of the outfit is placed closelyadjacent the compartment or chamber from which heat is to be extracted,as in the lower compartment of a refrigerator cabinet.

It has been proposed to use as a working substance in refrigeratingsystems of the evaporator-compressor-condensertype a solution of avolatile liquid and a lubricant and to separate out at one point in thecycle the lubricant in a highly concentrated form to be used forlhbricating and sealing the working parts. The separation of thelubricant component of the working substance is effected by fractionaldistillation, usually at the high heat of compression. The pump orcompressor accordingly operates at a temperature considerably above roomtemperature and when placed beneath the refrigerating compartment thereis a considerable leakage of heat into the latter with the result thatthe apparatus tends to operate more frequently and for longer intervals.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved self-containedrefrigerating outfit. Another object is to prevent leakage of heat froman apparatus compartment into a -refrigerating compartment immediatelyadjacent thereto or directly thereover. Another object is to utilize theobjectionable heat to remove heat from adjacent the refrigeratingcompartment. Another object is to utilize the objectionable heat for anadditional useful purpose. Other objects will be apparent from thedetailed description which follows:

The invention consists broadly in providing an atmospheric barrierbetween the source of heat and the refrigerating compartment. Bypreference the barrier is a moving column or layer of cool air whichremoves the heat. The objectionable heat is utilized to induce andmaintain the moving barrier and may be caused to serve the additionaluseful purpose of removing heat from the condenser. The moving column ofair, may be arranged to serve as ejector means fora chamber in which thecondenser is disposed. The chamber for the condenser may be providedbetween the apparatus compartment and the refrigerating compartment. Theinvention further contemplates utilizing insulating material additionalto that ordinarily used for the refrigerating compartment and in amanner adapted to increase the velocity of movefrom the utilization ofthe undesirable heat.

In order toillustrate the invention concrete embodiments thereof areshown'in the ment of the air stream or streams resulting partly cutaway, showing still further modified forms of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings various modifications of the inventive ideaare illus trated; In each instance a self-contained mechanicallyoperated refrigerating outfit is dis closed in which the apparatus is ofthe condenser-compressor-evaporator type utilizing a lubricatingrefrigerant in a closed cycle system. The refrigerant preferablycomprises a volatile liquid having lubricant in solution in accordancewith the disclosure of the co'pendine application of Ransom W.Davenport, en #60311. filed October 3, 1925working substances forrefrigerating machines, and the lubricantis arranged to be separated outby fractional distillation at the high temperature of compression. Thevarious parts of the refrigerating apparatus may be of any suitable ordesired type.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, therefrigerating outfit therein shown is intended for household use andcomprises a cabinet 6 havin a chamber 7 with walls insulated againstlieat and from which heat is intended to be extracted. Ad: jacentsaidchamber and preferably therebeneath is a compartment 8 arranged tocontain at least a part of the refrigerating apparatus. The apparatusdisposed in compartment 8 comprises a pump or compressor 9 and a primemover such as electric motor 10 arranged to operate the pump, the pumpand motor being combined into a hermetically sealed motor pump unit 9,10. An evaporator 11 is disposed in chamber 7 and a natural draft aircooled condenser 12 is secured at the back of the cabinet as indicatedin Fig. 2. A connection 13 including a feeding device or so-calledexpansion valve 14 extends from condenser 12 to the bottom of theevaporator 11. Pump 9 withdraws vaporized refrigerant from the top ofevaporator 11 by a pipe 15 and discharges the same at higher temperatureand pressure through pipe 16 into the top of the condenser 12.

Since the separating out of the lubricant component of the refrigerantsolution takes place in pump 9 at the high temperature of compression,considerable heat is given off by motor pump unit 9, 10 and it isdesirable to protect refrigerating chamber 7 from this undesirable heat."To this end a partition 17 is provided beneath chamber 7 and in spacedrelation thereto so as to provide an air chamber 18. In order to effectmovement of the air in chamber 18 so as to carry away the heat whichleaks through partition 17 taining the latter need not occupy all the.

space beneath refrigerating chamber 7 but by preference is disposed atone side thereof as indicated in Fig. 2 so that the heat fromcompartment 8 which is carried away' by the moving barrier of airproduced in chamber 18 and flue 19 may not interfere with the cooling ofcondenser 12. A narrow partition 21 separates the part of the rear wallof cabinet 6 which is utilized for condenser 12 from the part whichprovides space for flue 19. Compartment 8 is provided with one or moreopenings 8 beneath pump 9 and with louvres 8 at the ends to permit aportion of the heat in the compartment to escape.

The modification ofthe invention disclosed in Fig. 8 is in all respectssimilar to that of Figs. 1 and 2 except that the air chamber 18 is givenan upward inclination to facilitate the movement of air therethrough andup flue 19" which connects with the highest part of the air chamber 18.The inclination of air chamber 18 is effected by placing partition 17 ata slant as shown and by tapering the additional layer 20 of insulatingmaterial. v

In Figs. 4 and 5 the undesirable heat which is generated in theapparatus compartment of the cabinet is utilized to eifect the removal.

of heat from the condenser and for this purpose the air chamberinterposed between the apparatus compartment and the refrigerat ingchamber to protect the latter from. the heat of the compartment may havethe condenser disposed therein. The arrangement is preferably such thatthe heat from the apparatus compartment produces an ejector effect inthe air chamber so that a current of air moves through the latter withsnfiicient velocity and volume to carry away the leakage of heat fromthe lower compartment and to effectively cool the condenser.

In Fig. 4 the top of the apparatus compart ment 8 is formed by sharplyinclining partition 17 b which may be relatively thick and of heatinsulating material. layer of insulating material 20 isalso tapered atan angle corresponding to the inclination of partition 17 so that theair chamber 18 formed therebetween has a decided upward inclination. Thecondenser 12 of the refrigerating system is disposed in chamber 18 asindicated. The wall 8 of compartment 8 at the high end thereof is closedand merges into the outer wall of the flue 19 which in the presentinstance is shown at the end of cabinet 6 so as to give maximum lengthto air chamber 18 It is thus apparent that the higher part of apparatuschamber 8 opens into flue 19 with the result that there is a naturalupward movement of air from this compartment into flue 19 Partition 17has an upward and outwardly turned end 17 which cooperates with flue 19to produce an ejector effect with the result that the upward draft ofheated air from compartment 8 induces an active movement of cooled airthrough air chamber 18 and over and around condenser 12 disposedtherein.

In Fig. 5 a cabinet 6 provides a plurality of vertically spaced airchambers which are interposed between the apparatus compartment 8 andrefrigerating chamber 7. In the form shown two such air chambers 23 and24 are provided formed by spaced partitions 25 and 26. Partition 25which forms the closed top of compartment 8 may be of thin sheetmaterial such as metal and may be continued beyond the'cabinet to formthe exterior wall of flue 27. Partition 26 is preferably relativelythick and of heat insulating material. A wedge-shape layer 28 ofadditional insulating material may be secured beneath the refrigeratingchamber 7, the lower side of said material having an inch nationconforming to that of partitions 25 and 26 which are in substantialparallelism with eachother. Condenser 12 of the refrigerating apparatusis disposed in upper air chamber 24. Partition 26 has an angularlydisposed end portion 26 arranged to project into flue 27 to cooperatewith the latter in causing the rising current of air in chamber 23 tohave an ejector eifectupon air chamber ne ates 24 so as to produceefiective removal of heat from condenser 12.

While various preferred forms of the inventive idea herein disclosedhave been shown and described, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to the specific details thereof, but covers all changes,modifications, and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A self-contained refrigerating outfit providing a chamber from whichheat is to be cxtracted, a compartment adjacent said chamher for atleast part of the refrigerating apparatus, a wall of heat insulatingmaterial between said chamber and said compartment, and means providingan air chamber between said refrigerating chamber and said compartmentadjacent said wall.

2. A self-contained refrigerating outfit providing a chamber fromwhich-heat is to be extracted, an insulating wall for said chamher, acompartment beneath saicb chamber for at least part of the refrigeratingapparains. and means providing an air chamber between said refrigeratingchamber and said compartment beneathsaid wall.

3. A self-contained refrigerating outfit providing a chamber from whichheat is to be extracted, a wall of heat insulating material for saidchamber, a compartment adjacent said chamber for at least part of therefrigerating apparatus, and means providing a barrier of moving fluidbetween said refrigerating chamber and said compartment along said wall.

4. A self-contained refrigerating outfit providing a chamber from whichheat is to be extracted, an insulating wall'for said-chainber, acompartment beneath said chamber for at least partof the refrigeratingapparatus, and means providing a barrier of moving fluid between saidrefrigerating chamber and said compartment beneath said wall 5. Aself-contained refrigerating outfit comprising a cabinet having arefrigerating chamber with walls of insulated material, a

compartment beneath said refrigerating chamber, means for extractingheat from said chamber, at least a part of said means being" disposed insaid compartment, and means providing az upwardly directed air chamberbetween said chamber and said compartment.

6. A self-contained refrigerating outfit comprising a cabinet having arefrigerating chamber with walls of insulating material,

a compartment beneath said refrigerating chamber, means for extractingheat from said chamber, at least a part of said means being disposed insaid compartment, means providing an air chamber between said chamberand said compartment, and heat insulating material arranged to give saidair chamber an upward inclination.

7. A self-contained refrigerating outfit comprising a cabinet having arefrigerating chaml-er with walls of insulating material, a compartmentbeneath said refrigerating chamber, means for extracting heat from saidchamber, at least a part of said means being disposed in saidcompartment, means providing an air chamber between said chamber andsaid compartmenfiheat insulating material arranged to give said airchamber an upward inclination, and means forming a flue connected tosaid air chamber for inducing movement of air therethrough.

8. A self-contained refrigerating outfit comprising a cabinet having arefrigerating chamber with walls of insulating material, a compartmentbeneath said refrigerating chamber, means for extracting heat from saidchamber, at least a part of said means being disposed in saidcompartment, means provid ing an upwardly directed air chamber betweensaid chamber and said compartment,

and a fine connected to said air chamber to induce movement of airtherethrough.

9. A self-contained refrigerating outfit comprising a cabinet having arefrigerating chamber with wallsof insulating material, a compartmentbeneath said refrigerating chamber, means for extracting heat from saidchamber, at least a part of said means being disposed in saidcompartment, and means providing an upwardly directed air chamberbetween said chamber and said compartment, and a flue/upon the exteriorof said cabinet and connected to said air chamber to induce movement ofair therethrough.

10. A self-contained refrigerating outfit comprising a cabinet having arefrigerating chamber with walls of insulating material, a compartmentbeneath said refrigerating chamber, means for extracting heat from saidchamber, at least a part of said means being disposed in saidcompartment, means providing an air chamber between said chamber andsaid compartment, heat insulating material arranged to give said airchamber an upward inclination, and a flue connected to the highest partof said air chamber.

1.1. A self-contained refrigerating outfit comprising a cabinet having arefrigerating chamber with walls of insulating material, a compartmentbeneath said refrigerating chamber, means for extracting heat from saidchamber, at least a part of said means being disposed in saidcompartment, means providing an air chamber between said chamber andsaid compartment. heat insulating mate- 'rial arranged to give said airchamber an upward. inclination, a flue connected to the highest partofsaid air chamber, and means utilizing heat in said compartment forinducing movement of air through said air chamber.

12. A self-contained refrigerating outfit comprising a cabinet having arefrigerating chamber with walls of msulating material, a compartmentbeneath said refrigerat1ng chamber, at least a part of said means beingdisposed in said compartment, means providing an upwardly directed airchamber between said chamber and said compartment, a flue connected tosaid "chamber, and means cooperating with said flue for inducingmovement of air through said air chamber.

14. A self-contained refrigerating outfit comprising a cabinet having 'arefrigerating chamber with Walls of insulatingmaterial, a

compartment beneath said refrigerating chamber, means for. extractingheat from said chamber, at least a part of said means being disposed insaid compartment, means providing an upwardly directed air chamberbetween said chamber and said compartment, a flue connected to said airchamber, and means extending into said flue and coperating therewith forutilizing heat from said compartment for inducing movement of airthrough said air chamber. 15. A self-contained refrigerating outfitproviding a chamber from which heat is to be extracted, a compartmentadjacent said chamber for at least part of the refrigerating apparatus,means providmg an air chamber between said 'refrlgeratmg chamber andsaid compartment, a condenser in said air chamber, and means inducingmovement of air through said air chamber and over said condenser.

16. A self-contained refrigerating outfit comprising a cabinet having arefrigerating chamber, a compartment beneath said chamber, refrigeratingapparatus forming a closed cycle system including an evaporator in saidchamber, a motor-pump unit in said compartment, and a condenser, andmeans utilizing the undesirable heat given off by said m0torpump unitfor removing heat from said condenser.

17. A self-contained refrigerating outfit comprising a cabinet having arefrigerating chamber, a compartment beneath said chamber, refrigeratingapparatus forming a closed cycle system including an evaporator in saidchamber, a motor-pump unit in said com partment, and a condenser, andmeans protecting said chamber from the heat given ofl' by saidmotor-pump unit and utilizing said heat for removing heat from saidcondenser. 18. A self-contained refrigerating outfit comprising acabinet having a refrigerating chamber, a compartment beneath saidchamber, refrigerating apparatus forming a closed cycle system includingan evaporator in said chamber, a motor-pump unit in said compartment,and a condenser, said cabinet providing an air chamber between saidcompartment and said refrigerating chamber, said condenser beingdisposed in said air chamber.

19. A self-contained refrigerating outfit comprising a cabinet having arefrigerating chamber, a compartment beneath said chamber, refrigeratingapparatus forming a closed cycle system including an evaporator in saidchamber, a motor-pump unit in said compartment, and a condenser, andmeans between said refrigerating chamber and said compartment forming anupwardly inclined air chamber, said condenser being disposed in said airchamber.

20. A- self-contained refrigerating outfit comprising a cabinet having arefrigerating chamber, refrigerating apparatus forming a closed cyclesystem including an evaporator in said chamber, a motor-pump unit insaid compartment, and a condenser, said cabinet providing an air chamberbetween said compartment and said refrigerating chamber, and a flueconnected to said air chamber, said 1c)ondenser being disposed in saidair cham- 21. A self-contained refrigerating outfit comprising a cabinethaving a refrigerating chamber, a compartment beneath said chamber,refrigerating apparatus forming a closed cycle system including anevaporator in said chamber, a motor-pump unit in said compartment, and acondenser, said cabinet providing an air chamber between saidcompartment and said refrigerating chamber, said condenser beingdisposed in said air chamber,

and means utilizing the heat in said compart-' ment for inducingmovement of air through said air chamber and over said condenser.

22. A self-contained refrigerating outfit comprising a cabinet having arefrigerating chamber, a compartment beneath said chamber, refrigeratingapparatus forming a closed cycle system including an evaporator insaidchamber, a motor-pump unit in said compartment, and a condenser, meansbetween said refrigerating chamber and said compartment forming anupwardly inclined air chamber, said condenser being disposed in said airchamber, a flueconnected to the upper part of said chamber, and meanscooperating with said flue for utilizing heat in said compartment toinduce movement of air through said air chamber and over said condenser.

23. A self-contained refrigerating outfitcomprising a cabinet having arefrigerating chamber, a compartment beneath said chamber, refrigeratingapparatus forming a closed cycle system including an evaporator in saidchamber, a motor pump unit in said compartment, and a condenser, saidcabinet providing an air chamber between said compartment and saidrefrigerating chamber, and means including an ejector utilizing heatgiven oif by said motor-pump unit for inducing movement of air throughsaid chamber.

24. A refrigerator cabinet having a chamber with walls insulated againstheat and from which heat is to be extracted, a compartment for at leasta part of the refrigerating apparatus disposed beneath said chamber, anda plurality of vertically spaced air chambers between said insulatedchamber and said compartment.

25. A refrigerator cabinet having a chamber with walls insulated againstheat and from which heat is to be extracted, a compartment for at leasta part of the refriger ating apparatus disposed beneath said chamber, aplurality of vertically spaced air cham-,

bers between said insulated chamber and said compartment, and meansgiving said air chambers an upward inclination to induce a current ofair therethrough.

26. A refrigerator cabinet having a chamber with walls insulatedagainstheat'and from which heat is to be extracted, a compartment for atleast a part of the refrigerating apparatus disposed beneath saidchamber, vertically spaced partitions between said insulated chamber andsaid compartment providing upwardly inclined air chambers, and a flueconnected to the upper ends of both said air chambers.

27. A refri erator cabinet. having a chamber with walls insulatedagainst heat and from which heat is to be extracted, a compartment forat least a part of the refrigerating apparatus disposed beneath saidchamber, and a plurality of vertically spaced air chambers between saidinsulated chamber and said compartment, and a condenser in one of thesaid chambers. I

28. A refrigerator cabinet having a chamber with walls insulated aainstheat from which heat is to be extracte a com art-ment for at leasta part of the refrigerating apparatus disposed beneath said chamber andsaid compartment, and means giving said air chambers an upwardinclinationto inducemovement of air therethrough,and a condenser in thehighest of said air chambers.

29. A refrigerator cabinet having a chamber with walls insulated againstheat and from which heat is to be extracted, a compartment for at leasta part of the refrigerating apparatus disposed beneath said cha1n-,

ber, vertically spaced partitions betweensaid insulated chamber and saidcompartment providing upwardly inclined air chambers, a

flue connected to the upper ends of both said ber, vertically spacedpartitions between saidinsulated chamber. and said compartment providingupwardly inclined air chambers,

a flue connected to the upper ends of both said I air chambers, andva-condenser in the higher of said air chambers.

, 31. A self-contained refrigerator outfit comprising a cabinet having arefrigerating chamber, a compartment beneath said chamber, refrigeratingapparatus forming a closed cycle system including an evaporator in saidchamber, a motor-pump unit in said compartment', and a condenser, meansproviding verticall spaced upwardly inclined air chambers etween saidrefrigerating chamber and .said compartment, said condenser beingdisposedin the higher of said air chambers, a flue connected to theupper ends of both said air chambers, and means cooperating with saidflue whereby heat from said motor-pump unit carried away by the currentof air in said lower air chamber serves to induce movement of airthrough said upper chamber. Y

Signed by me at New York, New York, this 11th day of February, 1927.

ANTHONY H. COLLINS.

